[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5890-5891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01808]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0638; FRL-11710-01-OMS]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Waiver From Tier 4 Emission Standards for Marine Diesel 
Engines (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), Waiver from Tier 4 Emission 
Standards for Marine Diesel Engines (EPA ICR Number 2602.03, OMB 
Control Number 2060-0726) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved 
through January 31,

[[Page 5891]]

2024. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal 
Register on June 7, 2023 during a 60-day comment period. This notice 
allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2018-0638 to EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by email to [email protected] or by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. EPA's policy is that all 
comments received will be included in the public docket without change 
including any personal information provided, unless the comment 
includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute.
    Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Lennox, Assessment and Standards 
Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; 
telephone number: (734) 214-4025; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR, 
which is currently approved through January 31, 2024. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register 
on June 7, 2023 during a 60-day comment period (88 FR 37241). This 
notice allows 60 days for public comments. Supporting documents, which 
explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are 
available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed 
online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, 
WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The 
telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: EPA adopted the Tier 4 marine diesel engine standards in 
June 2008, under the authority of the Clean Air Act (73 FR 37096). The 
Tier 4 standards were phased in, with an effective date beginning in 
2016 through 2018 for most engines. In August 2020, EPA amended those 
regulations in response to industry concerns about the availability of 
suitable Tier 4 certified engines for installation in certain kinds of 
high-speed vessels. The amendments provided focused relief for 
qualifying engines and vessels in two phases, depending on engine and 
vessel size. Builders of qualifying vessels were required to submit to 
EPA information describing their need for regulatory relief and 
demonstrating that their vessels met the size and power conditions.
     Phase One was available through 2021 and was limited to 
propulsion engines with maximum power output up to 1,400 kW and power 
density of at least 27.0 kW per liter displacement. Additionally, the 
relief is limited to vessels up to 65 feet waterline length with total 
nameplate propulsion power at or below 2,800 kW. This includes vessels 
such as lobster fishing boats, pilot boats, and some research boats.
     Phase Two is available through 2023 and is limited to 
vessels with a single propulsion engine with maximum power output up to 
1,000 kW and power density of at least 35.0 kW per liter displacement, 
where the vessel is made with a nonmetal hull and has a maximum length 
of 50 feet. These vessels are expected to be primarily lobster or other 
fishing boats. EPA also adopted a waiver provision that can be applied 
for, if necessary, beginning in 2024, if suitable engines continue to 
be unavailable; this waiver requires the vessel builder to submit an 
application which would be reviewed by EPA before issuing the waiver.
    This information collection request renewal covers the reporting 
burden associated with applying for the waiver for vessels meeting the 
criteria for Phase 2 relief. EPA will use the information requested 
under this collection to determine if a boat builder qualifies for a 
regulatory waiver from the marine diesel Tier 4 standards, allowing 
that manufacturer to install Tier 3 engines on a qualifying vessel. It 
will be collected electronically and used to evaluate whether companies 
qualify for using engines meeting less stringent standards. 
Manufacturers may assert a claim of confidentiality in accordance with 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and EPA regulations at 40 CFR 
part 2. We will release this information only as permitted or required 
under the FOIA and EPA regulations at 40 CFR part 2 and part 1068. Non-
confidential portions of the information submitted to CD are available 
to trade associations, importers, environmental groups, members of the 
public, and state and local government organizations.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Manufacturers that sell or import 
into the United States (USA) new marine diesel engines and 
manufacturers that produce for sale in the USA certain high-speed 
marine vessels.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit.
    Estimated number of respondents: 20 (total).
    Frequency of response: On occasion: as necessary to obtain Tier 4 
waivers for a specific vessel or vessels.
    Total estimated burden: 380 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $39,707 (per year), which includes $0 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 380 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase is due to the end of the automatic delay 
for application of the Tier 4 standards to affected boats and the need 
to request a waiver from EPA to allow use of a Tier 3 engine if a 
suitable Tier 4 engine continues to be unavailable.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Information Engagement Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-01808 Filed 1-29-24; 8:45 am]
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